Israeli Airlines Suspend Ticket Sales for Marrakech Flights Amid Security Review
The return of Israeli airlines to Marrakech is becoming more complicated. After Israir, Arkia has also suspended ticket sales at the request of Israeli security services. Travelers who have already booked are now waiting to learn what will happen to their flights.
At the end of September, Marrakech was preparing to welcome three Israeli airlines. Three weeks later, two of them had stopped selling tickets. The latest to backtrack, Arkia announced on Wednesday, October 21, that it was immediately halting new bookings on its Tel Aviv–Marrakech route until further notice.
On Bladi.net : Three Israeli Airlines Add Marrakech Flights as Morocco Routes Rebound
The decision was made at the request of Israeli security services. In a statement reproduced by specialist outlet Port2Port, Arkia said it was discussing with the authorities the conditions needed to maintain its flights and what would happen to tickets already purchased.
The airline resumed its direct flights to Marrakech in August, after nearly three years of suspension. It operated two weekly round trips between Israel and Morocco.
The latest halt comes eight days after a similar decision by Israir. On October 13, its competitor had suspended ticket sales and put on hold its plan to increase service to three weekly flights to Marrakech from November. The lease of an additional aircraft was also abandoned.
Uncertainty over flights already booked
The decisions follow tighter Israeli security requirements after the September 30 attack aboard a Flydubai plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. A co-pilot assaulted the captain, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The new instructions apply in particular to Israeli carriers using aircraft leased from foreign airlines, along with their crews.
For Arkia, the suspension currently applies to sales of new tickets. According to Ynet, there has been no blanket cancellation of already-booked flights. The airline is reviewing whether they can go ahead, while passengers planning to travel in November await further details.
Arkia is considering turning to commercial partners to continue serving Marrakech if Israeli authorities require it to halt its own operations. The carrier has pledged to keep travelers informed as the security services make decisions.
